What Not to Miss in 2018

In January Opéra national de Paris will premiere Sex'Y, a musical theater production exploring sexuality - and sexualities - and Generation Y with non-professional performers aged between 20 and 30.This participatory performance project with amateurs is part of the Opéra & Université programme and the education activities of the Académie de l’Opéra de Paris. All participants benefited from a year’s worth of choral workshops under the direction of Morgan Jourdain and dance with the choreographer Martin Grandperret. This enabled about twenty young adults to discover the world of opera through artistic practice.

Jean-Marc Biskup is the director of the new Lavaur International Opera Festival and the educational programme "Apprends-moi l’opéra" : “This year we are working on Carmen with 15 classes, which will involve classroom sessions, backstage tours and open rehearsals. With certain classes we will be preparing a theatrical adaptation and with others a children's choir, from which we’ll pick the those who will sing on stage."

The world premiere of Theater Basel’s The Gold Bug will take place in March 2018.A powerful storm is raging over the island when Albert and his daughter Lilith knock at Sam and his grandfather William’s door. William opens up and tells them excitedly of his latest discovery, a beautiful, precious glittering golden bug. He is convinced that the insect has magic powers and tries everything he can think of to unlock them. In the process the boundaries between fantasy and reality become increasingly blurred and soon the four characters find themselves caught up in a thrilling adventure with secret messages, pirate escapades and a legendary treasure trove.Based on the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe, award-winning author Hannah Dübgen has written an exciting libretto which tells of gold rush fever and obsession but also of friendship and child-like curiosity. More info here

This April Opera de Tenerife will premiere Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, conducted by Rubén Díez and directed by Nicola Berloffa and performed by rising stars that have emerged from their Opera(e)Studio: Eugenio Di Lieto, David Astorga, Olena Sloia, Carmen Mateo, Inés Ballesteros, Silvia Zorita and Fernando García-Campero. L’italiana in Algeri (G.A Rossini) will kick-off their 2018/19 season, performed by the participants of the 2018 edition of Opera(e)Studio, the academy directed by Giulio Zappa. More info here

Clare Guss-Westis looking forward to leading a new initiative with Konzert Theater Bern starting at the beginning of March 2018. “Einstein”, a creative dance project for seniors based on a new commission for the main stage will be realised in partnership with Bern University and the Senioren University Bern. Research will be based on the role of creativity in wellness.

“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams” - Albert EinsteinFor more information, please contact Clare at clare@sussed-solutions.com

A new chamber opera about terrorism's impact on young people is being created by Opera Schmopera in collaboration with Gestalt Arts. Made in consultation with teenage students and counter-extremism experts The Active Change Foundation, the story is set in an imaginary universe full of dark humour, while the music blends urban pop and operatic musical styles. The piece will be performed 21-25 March in three venues in the north of England, with plans for a nationwide tour and the creation of an online resource to help young people, adults and teachers discuss the issues around the causes and effects of terrorism today. More information here.